Hatteras June 16, 2011
Steve Trout, of Athens, OH, with a 30" red drum he caught and released in the Ocracoke Island surf. Photo courtesy of Tradewinds Bait and Tackle.
Ryan, of Hatteras Jack’s, reports that sheepshead fishing from the Bonner Bridge catwalk has been excellent over the last week (with several citation fish weighed in). Anglers are hooking up with the sheeps while dangling sand fleas next to the bridge pilings.
Surf casters are connecting with some bluefish, sea mullet, spot, and croaker, but the bite’s been a little bit off because of cool and dirty water on the beach. The wind is just switching to the north, which should warm and clear the water, making for better fishing from the beach over the coming week. Bottom rigs baited with shrimp, sand fleas, bloodworms, and cut baits will attract attention in the breakers.
Anglers are reporting action with some speckled trout in the sound, just in time for their season to open up on June 16.
Spanish mackerel are around, and the north wind should improve the fishing for them in the coming days.
Ginger, of Frank and Fran’s Bait and Tackle, reports that surf anglers have found some good action with sea mullet along with some smaller bluefish on the Avon beaches recently.
Some spanish mackerel and bluefish are falling for Stingsilvers worked from the beach early and late in the day.
Pier anglers landed several cobia and some keeper flounder last week.
Teresa, of Avon Pier, reports that anglers are catching a few bluefish and spanish mackerel while working metal lures from the pier.
Bottom fishermen are decking some spot and croaker on shrimp and bloodworms.
Several cobia were caught last week.
Bob, of Red Drum Tackle, reports that anglers are connecting with some spanish mackerel and bluefish while casting metal jigs from the Hatteras and Frisco beaches in the mornings and evenings.
Decent sea mullet action and some fat pompano rewarded anglers bottom fishing in the surf last week. Small sand fleas have been producing most of the pompano, while the sea mullet are falling for shrimp and bloodworms.
Anglers are catching good numbers of keeper flounder on Gulps and small live baits in the sound.
Clamming has also been excellent in the sound near Hatteras Inlet.
Randy Wilcox with a 2 lb., 2 oz. citation pompano he hooked on a sand flea at Ramp 43. Weighed in at Red Drum Tackle.
Kyle, of Frisco Rod and Gun, reports that surf anglers found decent catches of sea mullet and bluefish on the south beaches last week. Clearer water on the north beaches produced some pompano action as well. Shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas are producing the action in the breakers.
Flounder fishing remains steady in the sound.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding just off the beaches and providing plenty of action for anglers trolling small spoons from boats.
Offshore boats are still finding a solid dolphin bite, with good numbers of gaffers mixed in with smaller fish. Some blackfin tuna and a few wahoo were also in the mix last week.
The Hatteras fleet is also seeing some decent billfishing, with sailfish and blue and white marlin releases last week.
Jam, of Teach’s Lair Marina, reports that offshore boats are landing limits of dolphin on many days (with good numbers of gaffers to 35 lbs. in the mix).
Some wahoo and football blackfin tuna have been mixed in with the dolphin, and boats have tallied decent numbers of blue and white marlin releases recently. Ballyhoo and trolling lures are attracting attention from all the blue water predators.
There are still decent numbers of cobia feeding in the hook of the cape and along the beaches. Inshore boats are hooking them while sight-casting bucktails to the cruising fish.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been stellar for boats trolling small spoons behind planers and trolling sinkers lately.
The flounder bite back in the sound is still good, with anglers catching plenty of keepers on Gulps and small live baits.
Sheepshead are feeding around the channel markers and other structure in the sound, and sand fleas will get their attention.
Surf casters are still hooking good numbers of pompano (to 2+ lbs.) on sand fleas.
Spanish mackerel and plenty of bluefish are falling for metal lures worked in the surf early and late in the day.
One of five white marlin released by anglers Roy Leathers and Patrick McGarth, of Newport News, VA, while they were trolling ballyhoo in the Gulf Stream off Hatteras Inlet with Capt. Jay Kavanagh on the charter boat "Bite Me."
Jay, of Bite Me Charters, reports that the dolphin fishing is still excellent off Hatteras Inlet. Gaffers and bailers are mixed together, and limiting out hasn’t been hard in recent days.
The billfishing is also on right now, and boats tallied solid numbers of blue and white marlin and sailfish releases last week (up to five whites per day).
Ballyhoo and trolling lures are the way to go for the dolphin and billfish.
Melinda, of Tradewinds Tackle, reports that surf anglers are catching some puppy drum from the island’s beaches. Cut baits and metal lures will get attention from the drum.
Sea mullet fishing has also been good over the past week, with most of the fish falling for sand fleas fished right in the wash.
A few cobia are still being caught by bottom fishermen in the sound.
Some large red drum are feeding on the inlet shoals, and boats are connecting with them while sight-casting bucktails.
Spanish mackerel trolling has been good for boats working just offshore of the island with small spoons.
Offshore trollers are connecting with some dolphin and tuna.
